Fuel-tank and means for filling same.



Patented Nov. 26, |90|.

n. L. monsAn. FUEL TANK AND MEANS FUR FILLING SAME.

2 sheets-snm l.

(Application led Sept. 8, 1900.)

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No. 682,253. Patented Nov. 26, i904.

n. L. MORGAN.

FUEL TANK'ND MEANS FOR FILLING SAME.

(Application led Sept. 8, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shut 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT FEICE.

RALPH MORGAN, OE WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSI'CNOR, RY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T o AMERICAN BICYCLE COMPANY, OE JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AND NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OE NEW JERSEY.

FUEL-TANK AND MEANS FOR FILLING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming pare of Lettere Patent No.' 687,253, dated November 2e, 1901.

Application filed September 8, 1900. Serial No. 29,381. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it' may aon/cern:

Be it known that I, RALPH L. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new anduseful Fuel-Tank and Means for Filling the Same, of which the followingr is a specification.

This invention relates to that Class of fuelxo tanks which are employed for holding gasolene or similar fuels in automobiles, gasolenelaunches, or for other uses; and the especial object of this invention is to provide improved means for lling a fuel-tank without the loss I 5 of air-pressure therein and without exposing the gasolene or other fuel to the atmosphere, so as to incur the liability of explosion.

To this end this invention consists of a fueltank and of the combinations therewith of a zo special form of filling-can, as hereinafter described, and more'partcularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side View, partially broken away, illustratz 5 ing the manner in which a filling-can may be attached to the fuel-tank according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the 'upper part of the filling-can. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a part of the filling-can and is 3o taken on a plane at right angles to the plane of section of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of .the cap for closing the filling-Opening of the fuel-tank. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the position of the valves while the fuel-tank is being filled. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating a m'odified form of construction, and Fig. 7 is a detail view of the cap used in connection with the construction illustrated in 4o Fig. 6. Y

In all places where gasolene or similar fuel is used under pressure considerable difficulty is encountered in refilling the fuel-tanks. This is especially the casein relling the fueltanks of automobiles. In refilling the fueltank of the ordinary steam-automobile it is now impracticable to refill the fuel-tank without first extinguishing the burner, this necessity arising not only from the danger of ig- 5o niting the fresh gasolene as the same is being poured into the fuel-tank, but also arising from the fact that air-pressure is necesarily allowed to escape from the air-tank when the filling-orifice therein is Opened to receive the fresh supply.

The especial obJ ect of my present invention is therefore to provide an improved construction' which is especially designed for refilling the fuel-tank of an automobile without exposing any of the gasolene to the air and without materially diminishing the air-pressure in the fuel-tank.

To these ends this invention consists, essentially, of aspecial form of filling-can which can be detachably connected to the fuel-tank 65 and of a 'valve mechanism which may be opened to permit the fuel-tank to be filled from the supply-can without material loss of pressure.

Referring to the accompanying drawings l7o and in detail, A designates the fuel-tank, which may be provided with an ordinary airinlet 10, to which a hand orpower pump may be coupled to maintain air-pressure in the tank, a pressure of forty pounds or more being ordinarily required in the fuel-tank. The fuel-tank A, as illustrated, is also provided with an ordinary pressure-gage l1 and an outlet connection 12. A threaded spout or nipple 13 forms the lling-opening into the 8o fuel-tank, and threaded into the spout 13 is a valve-seat let., cooperating with which is a valve 15, which has its stem extending down through the guide 16, carried by suitable arms or a frame, as shown. The valve 15 is 85 normally closed or seated by means of a coiled spring 17.

The supply-can B for filling the fuel-tank ispreferably of substantially the same capacity as the fuel-tank itself. As herein illustrated, the supply-can B is provided with a threaded spout or neck 19 for permitting the supply-can to be detachably coupled to the fuel-tank A. Engaging a valve-seat inside the filling-can B is a valve 20, which 95 extends through the guide 2l and is normally held closed or seated by a coiled` spring 22. Extending up through the valve 20, and preferably passing through a small gland or stuffing-box therein, is a rod 23. An Ioo operating-shaft 2i extends out through the side of the can through a suitable stuffingbox and is provided With a squared end for receiving a wrench. Secured on the inner end of the operating-shaft 24 is an arm or lever 25. One arm of the lever 25 is connected by a rod or link 26 to operate the valve 20, and the other end of the lever 25 is connected to operate the rod 23. Vhen the supplycan is not in use, its spout or nose may be closed by a cap 2S.

To fill the fuel-tank, the supply-can is first coupled thereto, as illustrated in Fig. I. The operating-shaft 24 is then turned, so that the rod 23 will be pushed down to force the check-valve l5 of the fuel-tank from its seat, While at the same time the valve 2O will be lifted, as illustrated in Fig. 5. This Will permit the gasolene or other fuel to iioW from the supply-can into the fuel-tank, and by means of this construction the fuel-tank A may be filled Without exposing any of the gasolene to the air, so that all possibility of explosion Will be absolutely avoided, and at the same time the pressure in the fuel-tank will be maintained Without substantial change, and on this account by practicing this invention the fuel-tank of an automobile may be easily refilled Without extinguishing the burner. lVhen the supply-can is uncoupled from the fuel-tank, the filling-orifice of the fuel-tank may be closed by an ordinary cap, as 1S, and the cap 2S may be also threaded onto the supply-can.

In some cases instead of employing the operating connections illust-rated in the first sheet of drawings an operating cam or connection may be located in the neck of the fiiling-can, so as to directly engage and operate the check-valves, and I have illustrated such a construction in the second sheet of drawings.

As shown in Fig. 6, the fuel-tank B may be provided With a filling spout or opening 30, mounted in which is a check-valve 31, having a stem 32 extending down through a guide, said-valve 3l being normally held up to its seat by a spring 33. The filling-can B, as illustrated, is provided with a neck-piece or casting 35, which may be held in place by a threaded collar 3G. Mounted in the neckpiece 35 is a check-valve 37, having a stem 25S extending through a guide andlbeing held normally to its seat by a spring 89 in the same manner as the check-valve 3l of the fueltank. The check-valves 3l and 37 are provided \vith operating stems or projections 34: and 40, respectively. An operating-shaft fil may be jonrnaled in the neck-piece of the filling-can, so as to extend from one side thereof in position to be operated by a Wrench, in the same manner as the operating-shaft 2i, previously described, and the operatingshaft 4l may be provided with a cam-section Li2 for directly engaging the studs or projections of the check-valves, so that by turning the operating-shaft the check-valves Will be simultaneously opened to permit the fuel to How from the filling-can B into the fuel-reservoir A, as before described. When this form of construction is employed, the cap 43, which closes the filling-opening of the fuel-tank, is preferably provided with a recess, as indicated by dotted lines, Which is deep enough to permit the cap to be partially threaded into place before depressing the check-valve 3l.

I am aware that numerous changes maybe made in practicing my invention by those who are skilled in the art Without departing from the scope thereof as expressed in the claims. I do not Wish, therefore, to be limited to the special construction which I have herein shown and described; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. The combination of a f nel-tank for holding fuel under pressure, a supply-can, means for coupling said tank and can together, a check-valve in the outlet of the supply-can and a check-valve in the inlet of the fueltank, means for normally closing each of said valves, and means for opening said valves simultaneously whereby fuel may be conveyed from the supply-can to the fuel-tank without loss of pressurein the fuel-tai1l ,sr1b stantially as described.

2. The combination of a fuel-tank for holding fuel under pressure, a supply-can, means for coupling said tank and can together so that the fuel Will flow from the supply-can to the fuel-tank by gravity, a check-valve controlling the outlet of the supply-can and a check-valve controlling the inlet of the fueltank, means for normally closing each of said valves, and means in the supply-tank for opening said valves simultaneously when the supply-can and fuel-tank are coupled together to permit fuel to flow into the fuel-tank With-` out loss of pressure therein.

3. The combination of afuel-tank, a checkvalve normally closing the filling-opening of the fuel-tank, a supply-can and check-valve normally closing the outlet of the supply-can, means for coupling the fuel-tank and supplycan together, an operating-shaft journaled in the supply-can, and two links operated from the shaft; one of said links being connected to open the check-valve of the supply-can, and the other of said links being connected to a rod arranged to open the check-valve of the fuel-tank, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a fuel-tank, a supply-can of substantially the same capacity as a fuel-tank, means for coupling the fueltank and supply-can together, a valve mechanism controlling the passage from the supply-can into the fuel-tank, and means for opening the valve mechanism to permit the liquid to run from the supply-can into the fi1el-tank,Wliereby the f nel-tank may be filled without loss of pressure and Without exposing any of the liquid fuel to the air, substantially as described.

5. rlhe combination of afucl-tauk, a checkn IIO valve, normally closing the fiiling-opening of l and a rod extending therefrom through the the fuel-tank, a supply-can and check-valve normally closing the ou biet from the supplyean, means for coupling the supply-can and the fuel-tank in an inverted position, and operating connections for said cheek-Valves, comprising a shaft journaled in the supplycan, an arm or cross-piece, a link extending from one end of the erin or cross-piece to lift the cheek-valve of the supply-can, a link extending from the other end of the cross-piece,

cheek-Valve of the supply-can into position to engage the cheek-valve of the fuel-tank,- substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH L. MORGAN. Witnesses:

e WM. H. EDMoNDSoN,

HENRY STUMM. 

